WASHINGTON – Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) today praised the Biden administration for its recent executive actions to appoint a book ban coordinator at the Department of Education and protect the LGBTQI+ community.

“I’m encouraged by the Biden administration’s executive action to further enhance protections of civil rights for our LGBTQI+ community. We’ve seen in too many parts of the country, including in Arizona, right-wing attacks on our schools and LGBTQI+ individuals. The appointment of a book ban coordinator will help guarantee our classrooms have the literary resources they need to promote a healthy and full student learning environment. As a proud sponsor of the Right to Read Act and LGTBQI+ Data Inclusion Act, I’ll continue to fight to ensure we stop book banning, reaffirms students’ and teachers’ first amendment rights and make certain the LGBTQI+ community is seen, counted, and heard.”

In addition, the new executive action will:

• Protect LGBTQI+ communities from attacks on their rights and safety by launching a new LGBTQI+ Community Safety Partnership and announcing that the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department will serve as the Department’s liaison to the LGBTQI+ community on issues related to protecting the rights of the community.
• Support LGBTQI+ kids so they can thrive by strengthening mental health resources for LGBTQI+ youth, launching a new federal initiative to address LGBTQI+ youth homelessness, releasing federal funding to support programs that help parents affirm their LGBTQI+ kids, and advancing new regulations to protect LGBTQI+ youth in foster care.